The Los Angeles Angels have hired one of their former players as their new manager, but that former player is not Albert Pujols.
Kurt Suzuki reached an agreement on Tuesday to become the next manager of the Angels, according to multiple reports.
Suzuki, a former All-Star catcher, has been with the Angels organization for the last three years as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian. Suzuki also played for the Angels for the final two seasons of his 16-year MLB career. He served as the manager of the team for his final MLB game as a way to honor him.
The 42-year-old Suzuki has no prior managerial experience, but that obviously was not a priority for the Angels. Pujols was initially viewed as the favorite to land the L.A. job, but the two sides could not find common ground in contract negotiations. Suzuki and former Angels outfielder Torii Hunter were reported to be the two finalists after Pujols was removed from consideration.
Suzuki began his playing career with the Oakland A’s in 2007. He had two separate stints in Oakland and with the Washington Nationals and also played for the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves. Suzuki won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019.
A career .255 hitter, Suzuki was respected for being an excellent game manager and a clubhouse leader. The Angels are hoping those traits will help him lead the team to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
